Barely ten minutes later, the convoy reached the Continental Hotel without incident.
Along the way, one lone assassin on a motorcycle tailed them for a short while. But the moment he saw the size of the convoy, he wisely pulled away.
Clearly, that was the poor soul who had accepted the single-target bounty on Anna.
Alex didn't bother. Small fry like that—if he really had the death wish to charge in—would just be erased.
The cars slowed to the curb. After parking, Alex led Anna and one of his men into the Continental.
As always, Charon stood behind the front desk, wearing his courteous smile.
"Welcome to the Continental. What service may we provide tonight?"
Clink.
Just like last time, a gold coin was placed on the counter.
But unlike before, Alex wasn't here for a room.
"I'd like to meet with the manager—Mr. Winston."
Charon hesitated, hand hovering over the coin before withdrawing. "Mr. Winston is a very busy man… I don't believe he has time for meetings."
Alex only smiled faintly. "Mr. Charon, all I'm asking is that you make the call. That's all."
Charon studied him for a moment, then finally picked up the desk phone. A brief exchange later, he hung up and gestured toward the bar.
"Mr. Cross. Ms. Poliatova. Mr. Winston is expecting you there."
"Thank you."
Alex nodded politely, then led Anna swiftly toward the bar.
Inside, a sweep of the room found Winston exactly where Alex expected: in the corner booth, a martini in hand, eyes carrying that same amused, calculating depth as in the films—half smile, half challenge.
Alex didn't waste time. The moment he sat down across from him, he spoke plainly.
"Mr. Winston, I need the contact information for John Wick and Caine."
The words hung in the air, unanswered. Winston peered over his glasses, regarding Alex and Anna with quiet interest. Only after a long pause did he sip his martini and reply, voice calm and deliberate.
"Jonathan is not someone one simply meets. Even after Anna's remarkable display today, I doubt she could truly be considered his match."
Alex nearly groaned inwardly. The old fox had it wrong—he thought Alex wanted to challenge John Wick.
Ridiculous. Alex knew well he wasn't on that level yet, and he had no intention of picking a fight with the Baba Yaga.
"Mr. Winston, you misunderstand. That's not why I seek them."
Winston's expression softened slightly at the clarification, though he still made no promise of help. Alex understood perfectly: no one would risk offending one of the Twelve Seats—the Camorra Family—for the sake of two relative newcomers.
That was fine. Winston had simply been the easiest route. There were other ways to find John Wick and Caine.
After a few more pleasantries, Alex rose to leave. At the door, he paused, watching Winston lift his martini again, and asked one last question:
"Tell me, Mr. Winston. If you had to describe the Camorra Family as an animal… would you choose lion, tiger, leopard—or jackal?"
Winston drifted into thought. Alex smiled faintly and turned away.
For now, the next step was clear: find a guide, and buy the information directly.
"Mr. Cross…"
Just as he was about to send one of his men to track down a guide, a voice called from behind the bar.
Addy, the bartender, was motioning him back toward Winston. At the same time, she slid a glass of whiskey across the counter.
"This is from Mr. Winston."
Alex lifted the glass. Beneath it, pressed under the base, was a folded note.
He read it, then couldn't help but smile.
Raising the whiskey toward Winston across the room, the two men clinked glasses silently from afar. Alex downed it in a single swallow.
Setting the empty glass back on the bar, he told Addy with a hint of steel in his voice:
"Please let Mr. Winston know… even for the High Table, the law of the jungle still applies. Lions, tigers, leopards, jackals—break their teeth, blunt their claws, and they're nothing more than kittens."
With that, he turned and left the bar.
Outside, his man asked, "Mr. Cross, where to next?"
Alex kept walking, a smile tugging at his lips.
"Of course… we go pay a visit to the legend himself—John Wick."